1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve? NOTE: Do not assume that the stasis of the play is the same as the stasis of the video version that you are required to see. Only discuss the play in this and answers to the following questions.
This play takes place in Crown Heights, Brooklyn in the early 1990s. It is based on the true events that occurred after a police-escorted car that was driven by a Jewish man hit and killed a black child that was playing in the street. A Jewish ambulance responds quickly and attends to 3 Hasidic people, one driver, and two passengers. In the same neighborhood and a couple of hours later, Yankel Rosenbaum, a Jewish Man, was attacked and killed by a group of black people. Rosenbaum dies later. Crown Heights was a racially divided neighborhood and this made tensions rise even more between racial groups. Emergency responders took a long time to respond and this was seen as a result of racial discrimination. After the accident occurred, tensions reached a peak and riots broke out in the neighborhood which resulted in significant injuries and property damage.
The play calls for one actor/actress to play every character.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Fires in the Mirror and how is it broken? The intrusion was difficult to find in this play because the plot is not linear/conventional. The intrusion occurs during the interview of Rabbi Spielman where he breaks the ice and addresses the incident. By doing so, it is almost an acceptance of responsibility for the event. All of the other characters dance around the details of the case but he is the first to directly address it.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: the unique factor may have something to do with you? How does the title figure in your answer? The unique factor is the tension that exists between the opposing communities prior to the accident. After the death of the child, both sides snap.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.) Will justice be served for either side or possibly both sides? Was there negligence on behalf of law enforcement and emergency responders? Will the two communities learn to coexist?
5. Use the narrator of the work to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing the narrator.
The primary conflict occurs between the two communities. The tensions and the prejudices that are present have existed for a long time. This event exacerbates the situation. Each community also conflicts with law enforcement and the emergency responders that failed to serve them.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Fires in the Mirror.
One of the most theatrical moments occurs when we hear from the little boy’s father. This is clearly meant to target the audience’s emotions. Roslyn Maud’s monologue is also a theatrical moment.
This play takes place in Crown Heights, Brooklyn in the early 1990s. It is based on the true events that occurred after a police-escorted car that was driven by a Jewish man hit and killed a black child that was playing in the street. A Jewish ambulance responds quickly and attends to 3 Hasidic people, one driver, and two passengers. In the same neighborhood and a couple of hours later, Yankel Rosenbaum, a Jewish Man, was attacked and killed by a group of black people. Rosenbaum dies later.
Crown Heights was a racially divided neighborhood and this made tensions rise even more between racial groups. Emergency responders took a long time to respond and this was seen as a result of racial discrimination. After the accident occurred, tensions reached a peak and riots broke out in the neighborhood which resulted in significant injuries and property damage.
The play calls for one actor/actress to play every character.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Fires in the Mirror and how is it broken?
The intrusion was difficult to find in this play because the plot is not linear/conventional. The intrusion occurs during the interview of Rabbi Spielman where he breaks the ice and addresses the incident. By doing so, it is almost an acceptance of responsibility for the event. All of the other characters dance around the details of the case but he is the first to directly address it.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: the unique factor may have something to do with you? How does the title figure in your answer?
The unique factor is the tension that exists between the opposing communities prior to the accident. After the death of the child, both sides snap.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will justice be served for either side or possibly both sides?
Was there negligence on behalf of law enforcement and emergency responders?
Will the two communities learn to coexist?
5. Use the narrator of the work to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing the narrator.
The primary conflict occurs between the two communities. The tensions and the prejudices that are present have existed for a long time. This event exacerbates the situation. Each community also conflicts with law enforcement and the emergency responders that failed to serve them.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Fires in the Mirror.
One of the most theatrical moments occurs when we hear from the little boy’s father. This is clearly meant to target the audience’s emotions. Roslyn Maud’s monologue is also a theatrical moment.